Apparatus for lowering life-boats.



No. 7I3,89.

A.- KERSUL'.

APPARATUS VlFOR LOWEBING'ILIFE BOATS.

(Application mea Juiy s, 1902.)

Patented Nox/.18,l |902.

4 shemasheet l.

Supe/Moz,

3%.?, his Stumm/Wj# No. 7l3,889. Patented Nov. I8. |902.

A. KEBSUL.

APPARATUS FOR LOWERING LIFE BOATS.

lApplcation fleri July 5, 1902.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-5lheet 24 Tfy,

Nu. 713,889. Paf-ented Nov. I8, H302.

A. KERSUL.4

APPARATUS FOR LOWERING LIFE BOATS.

(Applipatiou filed July 5, 1 902 (No Model.) 4 Sheets--Sheet 3.

No. 7I3,889. Patented Nov. I8, |902.

A. KERSUL.

APPARATUS FOR LDWERING LIFE BOATS.

(Application led July 5, 1902.)

4 Sheds-Sheet 4.

(nu Modem' IIIIIIIIII 5mm/vtm, 551# 1115 Stiro/01001145, vhf/Jr Tou,

m5 mums Penas co, How-Lawa, WA

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ANTONIO KERSU-L, OF NEW" YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR LOWERING LIFE-BOATS.

.SFECLCFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,889, datedNovember 18, 1902.

Application filed July 5,1902. Serial No. 114,476. (No modelfl .Tocir/ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, ANTONIO KERSUL, a citizen of Austria-Hungary,residing in New York, borough of Manhattan, in the State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forLowering Lifel3oats, of which the following is a specication.

The object of this invention is to provide means whereby a life-boat onshipboard can be conveniently and quieklylowered, the boat when not inuse being effectively protected by a suitable cover and securelyretained in upright position upon the deck ot the vessel.

For this purpose the invention consists of an apparatus forloweringlife-boats comprising two davits mounted rotatably upon the vessel, oneat each endof the life-boat, chocks on the vessel. for supporting thelife-boat, and suitable tackle connected with said life-boat, and withthe davits for automatically turning the latter when the life-boat isreleased from the chocks.

The invention consists, further, of certain combinations of parts anddetails of construction, which will be fully described hereinafter andfinally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of alife-boat, together with myimproved apparatus forlowering the same. Fig.2 is a top view, the cover of the life-boat being removed. Fig. 3 is atop view with the boat swung outwardly and supported by the davits. Fig.4E is an end elevation with the boat in inward position supported on thevessel, as in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5 5, Fig. 3.Fig. 6 is aside elevation, on a larger scale, of one of the davits andtackle. Fig. 7 is a vertical section, on a larger scale, on line 7 7,Fig. 2. Figs. Sand 9 are respectively a side elevation and a bottom viewof one of the movable chock-blocks, and Fig. l0 is a verticallongitudinal section centrally through the life-boat and its cover.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a life-boat, which is of thecommon or any suitable construction.

B is the hull of the vessel, upon which the life-boat is carried, and CC are davits by which the boat is supported when swung in outwarddirection. The davits C O/ are supported at their lower ends indeck-plates d d and brackets e e at the outer-side of the hull B or e2es within the hull, the plates d d being provided each with twoholes-one at the inner side and one at the outer side of the hull B andrail D-so that the davits maybe mounted either at the inner side of thehull and rail or at the outer side of the same. Upon the deck, betweenthe davits, are arranged two checks composed of stationary chock-blocksd a and movable chock-blocks a2 c3, said chocks being shaped so as toreceive and support the life-boat. The stationary chock-blocks Ct d areinclined at their forward side toward the edge of the deck D', as shownin Figs. 4 and 5, so that when the movable chock-blocks 0.2 d3 arereleased they slide down the inclined portions of the stationarychock-blocks and permit the lifeboat A also to descend. For retainingthe movable ehockblocks normally in position upon the stationarychock-blocks and also for locking the boat in position upon said chocks,I provide keepers t) b at the rear side of the stationary chocks,respectively, and keepers b2 b3 at the forward or front side ot' thechock-blocks, said forward keepers bearing against and serving to retainthe movable chock-blocks a2 o3 in position beneath the life boat. Theforward keepers h2 b3 are hinged at their inner ends below the inclinedportions a4 o5 of the stationary chock-blocks, so as to be swung inforward or outward and downward direction out of the way of the lifeboatand of the movable chocks when the lil`eboat is to be lowered. The rearkeepers h h may also be hinged at their lower ends, so as to facilitatehandling the boat when replacing the same. For retaining the keepers inposition I provide alocking mechanism connected with all the keepers, sothat all may be simultaneously operated when it is desired to releasethe life-boat. This mechanism consists principally of two rock-shafts c4e5, arranged in the life-boat transversely of the same in suitablebearings and carrying hooks e667 eS e9, one at each end, adapted toengage fastening-links d2 (Z3 d4 d5, connected with the keepers andprojecting through suitable openings in the upper part or rail of thelife-boat. To each rock-shaft is connected an operating- IOC armprojecting therefrom, and said arms d6 d7 are connected with each otherby a cord d8. From one of the arms a cord 19 passes through a suitableopening in the end of the life-boat into position for being grasped andpulled. When thesame is pulled, the arm 017, to which it is attached, isoperated, also the arm d6, connected therewith, the rock shafts e4 e5thereby turned and the hooks thereby released from the links, and thelife-boat thus freed.

The life-boat is intended to be supported normallyin upright position.For protecting the same against rain and the action of the weather, alsoagainst the filling of the same with water in a rough sea, a cover E ofcanvas or other suitable material is provided and means for securing thesame over the boat, so as to close the same water-tight, also means forsupporting the cover and for releasing the same quickly and reliablywhen the boat is to be used. The cover extends over the open top of theboat and slightly over the sides of the same and is provided at its edgein suitable hems with two parallel fastening-ropes, which form parallelridgesff with a channel between them, and upon the boat is arranged afastening-rope f3, passing through suitable eyes c and provided in itslength with a turnbuckle c. The fastening-rope f3 is secured at one endover a pin or`stud c2 at the end of the life-boat and is located whenthe cover is applied in the channel formed between the fastening-ropesff of the cover. The coveris provided with suitable recesses for accommodating the eyes c. For supporting the cover and also for limiting theoutward movement of the davits a cover-supporting rod g is provided,which is supported at each end by the davits in suitable swiveled eyesg. Coverropes g2 are connected at their lower ends with the cover andwith the supporting-rod g by suitable rings, so as to slide thereon. Bysliding the rings together the exible cover may be compacted together infolds, so as to eX- pose the ends of the boat, which is of conveniencewhen replacing the boat on the chocks. In order that the weight of thelife-boat when released may accomplish the turning of the davits, sothat the life-boat is automatically moved from its position of rest intoposition for launching, the davits are provided each with a suitabledrum, which drums g3 g4 are preferably located above and adjacent thedeck-plates d d. Over each drum passes a rope connected with thelife-boat. The arrangement of the lowering-rope or fall and thedavit-rope is shown in detail in Fig. 6. h indicates, the lowering-ropeor fall, which is secured at one end to the upper end of the davit,passes thence to a pulley-block h', a suspension-pulley 71,2, and aboat-block h3, back through the suspension-pulley h2, and thence over asuitable guide-pulley h4, preferably arranged on the davit, to asuitable cleat h, also preferably arranged on the davit. To thedavit-block h is attached the davitrope h6, which passes over a seconddavit pulley or block k7, secured to the vessel, and thence upon thedrum g3. The drums g3 g4 may be provided with suitable projecting pinsg5 for retaining the davit-rope h in position thereon. It will now beobserved that when the weight of the life-boat, which is connected by asuitable hook hs with the block h3, is permitted to exert itself uponthe said block the lowering-rope or fall h is pulled in the directionindicated by the arrows in Fig. 6, whereby the davit-block h is drawnand a pull exerted on the davit-rope h6, which being transmitted to thedrum g3 turns the same, and thereby swings the davit in outwarddirection.

When it is desired to launch the boat, the detachable portion D2 of therail D is removed. The cover E is then released by pulling the rope f3off from the pin or stud c2. This loosens the fastening-rope f3 aroundthe entire life-boat, so that the cover can now be disengaged from thesame. The rope dg is now pulled, and thereby the rock-shafts e4 e5 areturned and the hooks e6 e7 e8 e9 released from the links d2 d3 d4 d5.The forward keepers 4 b2 b3 being thus released, the movablechock-blocks a2 a3, partly by their own weight and partly by the weightof the boat upon them, slide down suitable inclined guides a4 of thestationary chock-blocks. For facilitating the downward movement themovable chock blocks are provided at their under sides with rollers@.p'dlhe upwardly-projecting guidesffir guiding the movable chock-blocksin their descent. The movable chock-blocks swing the forward keepers b2b3 in outward or forward direction, thereby leaving the boat free at itsouter side. The boat descends with the movable chock-blocks, beingsupported partly by the same and partly at its keel upon the guides ofthe stationary chock-blocks. The boat soon draws the fall h and thedavit-rope h6 taut, and when the weight of the boat is exerted upon thefalls h the outward swinging of both davits simultaneously into positionshown in Fig. 3 is caused. The cover E remains supported upon thesupporting-rod g. In Figs. 2, 3, and 5 the cover is omitted forclearness. To each movable chock-block is connected a suitablefasteningrope, kmsaqid ropes Zcgbeing secured at their innerei'idsit'ifitable cleats upon the deck D of the vessel. For imparting tothe lifeboat a prompt and reliable forward movement two pivotedcanting-levers fm, m are provided, which are arranged at the rear sideof the boat and engage suitable sockets m2 m3 of the same and which arelocated at such a point as to force the boat forward upon its descent,so that it goes forward promptly and in upright position. The boathaving been swung forward in the manner indicated, the same is nowlowered by paying out the lowering-ropes or falls h. This produces,however, no release of `the strain upon the davitrope, and this isessential in order that the davits should be retained reliably in theirIOO ITO

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outermost position during the lowering. This result is effected byreason of the fact that the davit-rope is connected by means of itsblock 71, in a bight of the lowering-rope 7L. The boat having beenlowered to the water, the hooks 7U* are disconnected from the lifeboat,and the latter is free. The falls 7L may be permitted to remain inlowered position or may be raised again into position shown in Fig. 6.

vVhen it is desired to return the life-boat to its position upon thedeck of the vessel, the falls h are lowered and the hooks hs engagedwith the corresponding eyes 719 of the boat. The lowering-ropes are thendrawn in, whereby tension is exerted upon the davit-ropes h6 and thedavits retained in outward position during the raising of the boat. Theboat is raised to a suitable height above the level of the stationarychock-blocks, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5. The releasing-hookm4 is now opened, thereby disconnecting the upper part of the davit-ropefrom the lower part. The disconnection of the davit-rope, however,permits the davit to swing freely in any direction, instead of the samebeing under a constant pull, tending to swing it in outward direction.The upper part Z of the davit-rope is now passed through to the otherside of the davit, as indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 3. By now simplypulling upon the said ropes l Z the davits are swung in inwarddirection, carrying the boat with them into proper position over thestationary chockblocks. A suitable block b" is provided, against whichone end of the boat may abut for locating the same in proper position onthe chocks. The movable chocks 0.2 a3 are now raised and placed inposition upon the stationary chock-blocks, the forward keepers raised,the boat lowered sufficiently so that the links may be placed inposition, and the rock-shafts e e5 manually turned by means of theirarms d (Z7, so that the hooks e e7 es e9 engage with the links. Thelowering-tackle is now paid out sufficiently so as to permit the upperpartl of the davit-rope to be drawn out sufficiently to again engage thereleasinghook mi. The turnbuckle c' of the fastening-ropesf3 is nowsomewhat loosened, the fastening-rope f3 engaged with the Stad gz theedges of the cover passed benea said" fastening-rope, and the turnbucklethen tightened, therebysecuring the cover tightly upon the boat.

Instead of disconnecting the davit-rope 7L for swinging the life-boatinwardly after raising the same, the saine may be accomplished inanother manner. For this purpose I provide suspension-hooks n, one ateach end of the boat, connected therewith by suitable suspension-ropesn. Each davit is provided at its upper end with a shackle n3. The boathaving been raised, the suspension-hooks are hooked into the shackles,and the life-boat thereby suspended directly from the davits. Thelowering-ropes are now paid out sufficiently to slacken the davit-ropes71.6, and the boat may be then pulled inwardly by sailors upon thevessel grasping the life-boat or a rope thrown out from the boat ontothe deck ofthe vessel. The boat is then lowered into position on thechocks by paying out the suspension-ropes n.

I have illustrated in the drawings pulleyblocks having only a singlepulley. This, however, is done merely for the sake of clearness, as theordinary three-part or four-part blocks will customarily be employed. Itis also obvious that in place of the releasinghook mi, which I haveshown, any suitable releasing-hook may be employed. The hook shown isoperated by simply moving the ring of the saine out of engagement withthe hookbar by hand, so that the hook-bar is freed and permitted to turnback so that the rope Z passes off the same.

The advantages of my improved apparatus for lowering life-boats areespecially the rapidity with which the boat can be launched, the easewith which the launching is effected, the reliable operation of theapparatus, and the fact that only two men are necessary for launchingeven the largest size of life-boat, whereas heretofore six or seven menwere required for the safe launching of boats of the size ordinarilyemployed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. An apparatus for lowering life-boats, consisting oftwo rotatable davits, a drum on each davit, means for supporting theboat on the deck of the vessel, a lowering-rope or fall connected witheach davit and with the boat, and a davit-rope for each davit passingover the drum of the same and connected with a bight of saidlowering-rope, substantially as set forth.

2. An apparatus for lowering life-boats, consisting of two rotatabledavits, a drum on each davit, means for supporting the boat on the deckof a vessel, a lowering-rope or fall connected with each davit and withthe boat, a davit-rope for each davit passing over the drum of the sameand connected withabight of said lowering-rope, and means fordisconnecting said davit-rope, substantially as set An apparatus forlowering life-boats, consisting of two rotatable davits, a drum on eachdavit, two stationary chock-blocks located on the deck of the Vesselbetween said davits and provided with a top surface inclined toward theside of the vessel, movable chock-blocks on said inclined top surface,keepers for retaining said movable chock-blocks in position, means forsimultaneously releasing both of said keepers, a lowering-rope or fallconnected with each davit and with the boat, and a davit-rope for eachdavit passing over the drum of the same and connected with a bight ofsaid lowering-rope, substantially as set forth.

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4. An apparatus for loweringlife-boats,con sisting of two rotatabledavits, a drum on each davit, two stationary chock-blocks locat-ed onthe deck of the vessel between said davits and provided with a topsurface inclined toward the side of the vessel, movable chock-blocks onsaid inclined top surface, keepers for retaining said movablechock-blocks in position, means for simultaneously releasing both ofsaid keepers, a lowering-rope or fall connected with each davit and withthe boat, a davit-rope for each davit passing over the drum of the sameand connected with a bight of said lowering-rope, and Gauting-leverslocated at the rear side of the boat and adapted to move the same inforward direction during its descent upon said stationary chockblocks,substantially as set forth.

5. An apparatus for loweringlife-boats,con sisting of two rotatabledavits, means for releasably sup porting the life-boat in raisedposition adjacent said davits, and means connected with each davit andwith Vthe boat, and operated by the latter, for turning said davitswhile the boat is descending, substantially as set forth.

6. In an apparatus for lowering life-boats, the combination, withkeepers arranged at the sides of the boats, and links projecting fromsaid keepers into the boat, of movable hooks mounted within the boat inposition to engage said links, and means, extending at the outside ofthe boat, for simultaneously operating all of said hooks fordisconnecting the same from the links, substantially as set forth.

7. In an apparatus for lowering life-boats, the combination, with tworotatable davits,

of a connecting-rod swiveled and slidably connected to the upper ends ofboth davits, substantially as set forth.

8. An apparatus forloweringlife-boats,con sisting of two rotatabledavits, a drum connected with each davit, two stationary chockblockslocated adjacent said davits, movable chock-blocks adapted to slide indownward direction upon said stationary chock-blocks, keepers forretaining said movable chockblocks in position, means for releasing saidkeepers, a lowering-rope or fall connected with each davit and with theboat, a davitrope for each davit passing over the drum of the same andconnected with said loweringrope, a cover extending over said life-boatand provided at its outer edges with recesses for said keepers, andmeans securing said cover at its edges tightly to said boat,substantially as set forth.

9. In an apparatus for lowering life-boats, the combination, with tworotatable davits, of a connecting-rod extending between the upper endsof said davits, ropes supporting the life-boat from said davits, aiieXible cover for said life-boat, and suspension-ropes connected withsaid cover and provided at their upper ends with loops or rings adaptedto slide upon said connecting-rod so as to permit the compactingtogether ot the cover, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinventlon I have signedmyname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANTONIO KERSUL.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH H. NILEs, HENRY J. SUHRBIER.

